Areeb Majeed had filed for a bail application on 10th of March before a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court. On 27th of April the prosecution and defence lawyer argued on the bail application.

Terror suspect Areeb Majeed. Photo: Bipin Kokate

While arguing before special NIA court Judge Y D Shinde, the defence lawyer argued that the other court in the absence of NIA court had extended the custody (remand) and also had extended the date of filling of chargesheet without having the powers to do so. By passing this order the court has exceeded its jurisdiction and according to certain laws only designated NIA court has jurisdiction to extend the time period of the application filed by NIA. So in that case the order is illegal.

While the Prosecution during argument pointed out that, "The accused did not raise the issue of jurisdiction in the other court at that point of time. During that time there was an administrative order due to which the other court heard the case."

Areeb Majeed and three other youths from Kalyan town Shaheen Tanki, Fahad Shaikh and Aman Tandel had gone to Baghdad on May 23 as part of a group of 22 pilgrims to visit religious shrines in Iraq. The next day, Areeb Majeed had called his family from Baghdad and apologised for having left without informing them.

Upon returning to India, other pilgrims had told the police that Areeb, Fahad, Aman and Shaheen had hired a taxi to Fallujah, a city west of Baghdad, which had emerged as the epicentre of Iraq's deadly insurgency.

Areeb Majeed was arrested by NIA officers on 29th November, 2014 and was booked under various UAPA acts along with section 125 of Indian Penal code. After presenting him in the court he was given police custody and after completion of investigation he was sent to judicial custody.

Majeed was presented in the court at 11:50 am. He was seen wearing white shirt and blue denim. Meanwhile the court also extended his Judicial Custody till April 19.